The Eucharist

The Eucharist

For Charles, Jesus in the Holy Eucharist helped to reveal the mystery of Nazareth.

Lord Jesus, You are in the Holy Eucharist. You are there, a yard away in the tabernacle. Your Body, Your Soul, Your human Nature, Your Divinity, Your whole Being is there, in its twofold nature. How close You are, my God, my Savior, my Jesus, my Brother, my Spouse, my Beloved!

You were not nearer to the Blessed Virgin during the nine months she carried You in her womb than You are to me when You rest on my tongue at Holy Communion. You were not closer to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph in the caves at Bethlehem or the house at Nazareth or during the flight into Egypt, or at any moment of that divine family life than You are to me at this moment and so many others -- in the tabernacle.

St. Mary Magdalene was no closer to You when she sat at Your feet at Bethany than I am here at the foot of this altar. You were no nearer to Your apostles when You were sitting in the midst of them than You are to me now, my God. How blessed I am!

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It is wonderful, my Lord, to be alone in my cell and converse with You in the silence of the night -- and You are there as God and by Your grace.

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Is it not true that someone in love feels that he has made perfect use of all the time he spends in the presence of his beloved?

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Jesus speaks:

Wherever the Sacred Host is to be found, there is the living God, there is your Savior, as really as when He was living and talking in Galilee and Judea, as really as He is now in heaven.

Never deliberately miss Holy Communion. Communion is more than life, more than all the good things of this world, more than the whole universe: it is God Himself, it is I, Jesus.

Could you prefer anything to Me? Could you, if you love Me at all, however little, voluntarily lose the grace I give you in this way? Love Me in all the breadth and simplicity of your heart.

Chalice used by Charles to celebrate Mass.